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m E R OASSEL APPARATUS FOR TREATING METALS BY MEANS OF ELEUTROLYSISKPatentedfeb. 24', 1885.

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MTED Srnrns nrenr OFFICE.

'HENRY R. OASSEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING METALS BY MEANS OF ELECTROLYSIST SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 312,814, dated February 24, 1885.

Arplication filed June 1?, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY R. CASSEL, a citizen of the United States,residing in New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Metals,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for separating metalsby electrolysis, by means of which base bullion [is dissolved, thedeposition of the dissolved metals upon the cathode prevented, and theprecipitation and separation of the metals effected in one and the sameoperation.

In the accompanying drawings,which show a convenient arrangement ofparts for carrying out the objects of my invention, Figure 1 is aperspective view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of ananode inclosed in a bag. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the anode-bag.

A dissolvingtank, A, preferably lined with lead, is filled or partiallyfilled with a slightlyacidulated solution of sulphate of copper, andconducting copper wires or I), connected, respectively, with thepositive and negative poles of a dynamo-electric machine or other sourceof electricity, are arranged at the top of the tank on either sidethereof.

Anodes B, composed of the base metal to be dissolved, are suspended inthe tank by means of hooks or eyes (1 and transverse copper rods c,whichlatter rest upon or connect with the positive wire a. A cathode orcathodes, G, of eopper,are also suspendedin a similar manner by means ofhooks or eyes e and transverse copper rods j, which latter rest upon orconnect with the negative wire I). The cathodes, which alternate withthe anodes, hang into cathode-cells, such as D,whieh latter are alsosuspended upon the rod f by means of hooks or eyes The walls of thecathode-cell are composed of a dense porous non-conducting substance orother suitable dialysing material which permits the passage of theelectric current and the hydrogen, but prevents the dissolved metals ofthe anode from reaching and being deposited upon the cathode.

Instead of cathodecells suspended as aforesaid, the tank may be dividedinto anode and cathode cells, and the anodes and cathodes separated fromeach other by means of transverse vertical partitions of dialysingmaterial fitted to the tank.

A reservoir or supply-tank, E, for the copper solution is connected withthe cathode-cell by means of the pipe F, which extends into anddischarges near the bottom of said cell.

The walls of the cathode cell or partitions which separate the anode andcathode cells are provided near the top with holes h,through which thesolution may pass from the cathodecell to the anode cell or compartment.

Pieces 13 of copper are placed in the anodecompartments, and copperplates or strips i" are suspended against the sides thereof, but in sucha manner as not to come in cont-act with the anode itself, or beconnected with any pole. or to interfere with the current passing to thecathode. 7

To catch any free gold that may be liberated from the anode and preventits falling to the bottom and there mixing with the silver, the anode isinclosed in a bag, G, of textile material which is sufficiently porousto allow of the passage of the current. This bag is composed ofhorse-hair or asbestus, because this material is not affected by thesulphuric acid of the solution. vided with a frame, m, composed of anarrow strip of some suitable metal not dissolved by the solvent .used,which frame extends along or constitutes the bottom and ends of the bag.This metallic frame is connected with the anode, and serves toredissolve any precipitate of silver which may come from the anode.

A precipitating-tank, H, receives the solution from the anode-cell, itbeing drawn therefrom'by means of a cock, j, or a siphon. This tank isdivided by a transverse vertical partiti0n, 7c, into two compartments, HH The copper solution accumulates in compartment H until it nearly fillsthe same, and thence passes through a hole near the top of partition isinto the compartment H The compartment H contains scraps of copper O inthe bottom thereof, and plates 0, of copper, may also be suspended inany suitable manner in the tank. These plates or pieces of copper tendto precipitate any silver that may remain in the solution after itleaves the distuted for the injector. I

The operation is as follows: The anodes and cathodes being suspended intheir respective This bag may be procells, and the dissolving andprecipitating tanksA H and reservoir E being filled or partially filledwith a suitable solution, such as a slightly-acidulated solution ofsulphate of copper, the electric circuit is closed and the injector orpump started. By tlie action of the electric current copper is depositedupon the cathode from the solution in the cathode cell and the metalsofthe anode dissolved into the solution in the anode-compartment.

The silver dissolved from the anode forms sulphate of silver, whichcoming in contact with the pieces of solid copper placed in theanode-cell is immediately precipitated and falls to the bottom of thetank in, a pure metallic state. If gold be present in the anodes, it isnotdissolved, but is liberated and caught in the bag surrounding theanode, as before stated. \Vithout the bag the liberated gold would fallto the bottom in the form ofblack slime and miX with the silver. It isthe func tion of the bag to prevent this admixture. If any silver in theform of precipitate be within the bag, it is redissolved on coming incontact with the metallic frame.

' I have found that to dissolve the sulphate ofIsilver formed in theoperation it is necessary to supply continuously a fresh solution to theanode. By the deposit of copper upon the cathode the densityof thesolution in the cathode-cell is changed. and the lighter and freerportions of said solution rise to the top and thence pass to the anodecompartment or cell at the level of the solution through the holesprovided in the dialysing partition, or through siphons.

- The solution is drawn off from the bottom of the anode-cell, and ispreferably passed through the precipitating tank containing solid copperas a matter of precaution, in order that any sulphate of silver,.if anyremains in thesolution after it leaves the anodecell, may be entirelyprecipitated. The injector or pump raises the solution from theprecipitatingtank to the reservoir, whence it is conducted to the bottomof the cathodecell to again perform its function as before.

If due precaution is taken, all the silver may be precipitated in thedissolving-tank, and a precipitating-tank may be dispensed with. it willtherefore be seen that the acids contained in the solution are notlost,but are used over and over again in a continuous operation.

v The arrangement may be changed by making the cell hereinbeforedescribed as the cathode-cell the anode-cell, and vice versa, care beingtaken to change the induction and eduction pipes. Any number of cellsmay be placed or formed in the same tank, and any desired number oftanks may be placed in the same circuit;

What is claimed as the invention is-- 1. The process of separatingmetals by electrolysis, which consists in subjecting the anodes andcathodes while separated by a partition of dialysing material to theaction of an electric current in an a'cidulated solution, said solutionbeing in continuous circulation, substantially as set forth. 7o

2. The combination of anode and cathode cells for containing anacidulated solution separated by a partition of dialysing materialprovided with holes or slots near its top, or with a siphon, an anodeand cathode suspended, respectively, in said cells, suitable electricconnections, and means for effecting a continuous circulation of thesolution, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a dissolving-tank containing an acidulatedsolution provided with a dialysing partition and electric conductors, ananode and cathode suspended in saidtank on opposite sides of saidpartition,

a precipitating-tank containing copper scraps 8 5 or plates, a pipe orsiphon connecting said dissolving and precipitating tanks,a reser voir,pipes connecting said reservoir with said tanks, and means for inducinga circulation of the solution through said tanks andreservoir,substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus 'for separating metals,

a dissolvingtank having separate anode and cathode cells formed bypartitions of dialysing material, the anode-cell containing copper 5 forprecipitating the silver, substantially as set forth.-

5. In an apparatus for separating metals by electrolysis, an anodecomposed of the metals to be separated, provided with a covroo ering orbag of asbestus or its described equivalent for retaining the free gold,substantially as described.

(3. In an apparatus for separating metals by electrolysis, an anodecomposed of the metals to be separated, provided with a covering or baghaving a metallic frame, substantially as described.

7. The process of separating compounds of metals or alloys, whichconsists in placing I [0 said alloys within an anode-cell constructed inpart of porous material and in part of non-porous conductive materialcharged with a solution which is a solvent of the baser metals of theores or alloys, and subjecting 11 them to'electrolytic action, wherebythe insoluble metals are precipitated 'or deposited within saidanode-cell, while the soluble metals are dissolved and withdrawn in theform of a solution, substantially as described.

8. An anode-cell for containing material to be subjected to electrolyticaction, constructed in part of porous material and in part of nonporousconductive material, substantially as described.

9. An 'anodecell for containing material to be subjected to electrolyticaction, the body of which is composed in part of porous material, andthe bottom of non-porous conductive material.

HENRY R; GASSEL. Witnesses:

F. G. SoMEs, F. A. Onasn.

